Rick Ross thinks it’s "lame" when artists choose to collaborate with others just because of their chart success at the time.
The rapper, who has worked with the likes of Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Jay Z on his album ‘Mastermind’, insists he didn’t just want to work with stars who are popular now and also decided to collaborate with 70s soul singer Betty Wright on the track ‘Sanctified’.
He told The Sun newspaper: "When you’re speaking about collaborators, you have to mention Betty Wright on ‘Sanctified’.
"I don’t pick people based on chart positions at the time, that’s one of the lamest things an artist can do.
"Me, I base it on the emotion I know an artist will bring to this piece of work."
‘Sanctified’ also features Big Sean and Kanye and Rick claims it’s the longest he’s spent working on a song with the ‘Bound 2’ rapper.
He explained: "The chorus started out as a sample then we tried a vocalist, then another, then another.
He said: "In the end, we just said, ‘Let’s get a fo’ real gospel singer to give us that feeling’. I reached out to the beautiful, talented Betty Wright, who has always been shining in Miami, and she showed some love and it paid off."
The 38-year-old star, who was shot at but uninjured while driving with his girlfriend in Florida last year, also admits the near-death experience has changed his outlook.
He said: "I wouldn’t be honest with myself if I said it didn’t change my outlook.
"But you stay focused and not let it overwhelm you or stop you making a classic album. That’s what I did.
"I looked at the album differently but I didn’t want to dwell on it. I did want to make it clear that I’m still hustlin’ every day."
Rick Ross: I don’t collaborate because of chart hits
